If you haven’t joined TikTok yet, you might be wondering: Should I? Maybe you’re feeling FOMO, or maybe your curiosity is piqued by all the buzz. Allow me to satisfy that curiosity and save you the download—it’s not worth it.
Don’t get me wrong, TikTok might’ve been a fun app in its heyday (circa two years ago). Back then, it seemed like a magical place where trends, humor, and creativity collided in glorious harmony. However, as of now, TikTok has become a shadow of its former self, buried under an avalanche of TikTok Shop promotions. Imagine scrolling through your feed, only to be hit with an endless parade of “must-have” items you didn’t ask for. No thanks.
Honestly? I’d rather wait for TikToks to trickle their way over to Instagram Reels, where I can actually enjoy them without feeling like I’m trapped in an infomercial. That’s the beauty of Instagram—it’s like the highlight reel of TikTok, minus the ads.
The (Few) Positives
I will admit, there’s one thing TikTok does better than Instagram: content creation. I found that TikTok’s video editing system is surprisingly intuitive and far superior to Instagram’s. Adding text, syncing to music, and playing with effects felt seamless. I actually enjoyed making videos, which is saying something for someone who only opens the app sporadically.
Speaking of sporadic use, my TikTok “routine” looks something like this:
- Open the app once in a blue moon.
- Film something fun or quirky (because why not?).
- Watch all the TikToks my sister or friends have sent me.
- Close the app and forget about it for another week (or two).
Why TikTok Isn’t My Thing
It’s not that TikTok isn’t fun. It’s just that it isn’t fun enough to outweigh the downsides. The sheer volume of ads, coupled with the temptation to waste hours scrolling, made the app feel more like a chore than a source of entertainment. Sure, I could see how it might become a massive time suck, but I never got there because the experience was too frustrating to stick around.
If you’re someone who’s already on TikTok and loves it, more power to you! But if you’re on the fence, take my advice: skip it. You’re not missing much.
Stick to Instagram Reels or good ol’ YouTube, where the best of TikTok inevitably ends up anyway. And if you ever get that itch to try TikTok for yourself? Just remember—your curiosity doesn’t need to be fed that badly.
But in the event you’re already addicted to the app, feel free to drop me a follow here.
Alrighty! Byeeee!
By the Brooke 
Well, you saved me a whole lot of time. 😂 Out of all the social media apps out there, I dunno why TikTok is the most intimidating to me. Probably because I’m incapable of thinking up content that’s clever enough to catch someone’s attention and short enough to fit in a quick video. I’m too long-winded for my own good. I’m really loving this series of yours, and thank you for your sacrifice of trying out all these apps so I don’t have to.
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Thanks! I must admit, this was a brief overview of tik tok and next I’m seeing how writing content does on it…we’ll see if that changes anything. I’m glad you’re enjoying this series. It’s a little internet and appstore adventure. 😂😅
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I’ll look forward to any updates you have after you’ve been floating around out there for a while. Fingers crossed you get some good results.
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I really enjoyed your honest and thoughtful perspective on exploring TikTok as someone slightly out of touch with the platform. Your clear breakdown of what worked for you and what didn’t makes the post both informative and relatable. Thank you for sharing your experience in such a candid and engaging way.
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